THE “Hollywoodisation” of Primrose Hill split a community at a public meeting on Tuesday.
Neighbours clashed with Camden Council and each other over filming in the area.
Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella filmed in Primrose Hill last month and the Natalie Portman movie, V for Vengance, was shot there earlier this year.
At the meeting in Primrose Hill Community Centre in Fitzroy Road, resident Eddie Williams complained that “nobody at the council asks us if we want filming – we just have to put up with it”.
He said some residents in Chalcot Square had been moved to tears because they were afraid of upsetting neighbours by objecting to filming.
Mr Williams has warned in a letter to neighbours: “Primrose Hill is in danger of becoming another Notting Hill with coachloads of tourists coming in to gawp at someone’s front door.”
Other residents complained on Tuesday of “arrogant” film crews taking their parking spaces and, on one occasion, forcing an 80-year-old man to make a one-mile detour on foot to stay out of their way.
But residents working in the film industry said it was up to production bosses to run a tight and friendly operation – a view endorsed by the council’s film office, which is funded by fees paid by film-makers.
Other residents said they welcomed film crews, who added colour and interest to the neighbourhood.
The Town Hall’s acting head of arts Val Wilson said there was nothing the council could do to stop filming on the streets but agreed that if film-makers wanted to close streets and take over parking spaces – essential on most big-budget films – then it had “leverage”.
She rejected a call from Mr Williams to suspend filming in Primrose Hill for six months.
Residents also clashed angrily over the decision to extend the licence at the Princess of Wales pub in Chalcot Road.